Project Dashboard

Project Overview

Type of application: New

Proponent name:

Mr. Ryan Harris

Company:

Parks Canada

Schedule:

Start Date:

2017-08-26

End Date:

2017-09-09

Operation Type:

Annual

Project Description:

Parks Canada's 2017 archaeological survey of the wreck of HMS Erebus (pursuant to Parks Canada Research & Collection Permit application 29439) has undergone a change of scope due to evolving logistical circumstances. The initial fieldwork plan called for a wholly marine based project with all sewage treatment, garbage disposal, fuel storage, and personnel accommodation taking place on the 228 tonne Parks Canada Research Vessel David Thompson. Unfortunately, the ship is delayed in dry dock in Nanaimo and will not be available for this Arctic's summer field season.
Parks Canada's Underwater Archaeology Team still wishes to conduct archaeological investigations this summer, albeit of much shorter duration and of substantially reduced scale. We are proposing to establish a temporary camp on one of three islands in proximity to the site from which to conduct small boat operations. Scientific diving would be conducted by a 6 person UAT dive team from a 5.30 m zodiac with a second 4.65 m inflatable available for security. The camp will also support 4 community members from Gjoa Haven who will be hired by Parks Canada as part of a new collaborative and ongoing Guardian Program intended to support seasonal monitoring of the wreck site area by local Inuit. The camp will also provide logistical support and emergency shelter for Adventure Canada zodiac-based visitors to the wreck site on September 9th. The marine component of the Adventure Canada site visit is subject to separate Parks Canada and NIRB approval processes (only the very brief use of the Parks Canada land camp for logistical support and emergency shelter for visitors is considered here).

Waste and Impacts

Environmental Impacts

Negligible. Human waste will be collected in WAG bags and disposed of at approved landfill in Cambridge Bay or Gjoa Haven after the survey. All garbage will be collected in plastic drums and disposed of at approved landfill in Cambridge Bay or Gjoa Haven after the survey. A supply of 210 L of gasoline (two steel drums) will be stored at the camp within a commercial off-the-shelf fuel containment berm (Ready Containment 30 mil 700 L capacity). Any remaining fuel and both drums will be returned to Cambridge Bay or Gjoa Haven after the survey. A manual rotary pump will be used for fuel transfer to the generators and boat fuel tanks. All fuelling will take place within the berm. A fuel spill kit will be available on site. The Yamaha outboards are fuel efficient and clean running 4-stroke engines.